A heritage cardigan sweater with a storied past and a long future ahead The cable-knit sweater got its start in the fishing communities on the Aran Islands that lie just at the edge of Galway Bay in Ireland. Back in the day, the intricate design of every fisherman's sweater was unique to his family, and each household had a signature pattern of stitches with a special meaning. Over time its handsome look gained widespread popularity, and these days the style is a venerated classic. Inspired by the pattern worn by style icon Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair, Flint and Tinder reinvents the classic cable-knit sweater into a chunky knit cardigan with the kind of charm that's just begging to be shown off.